 Russia's longest-range nuclear missile goes into service. The Sarmat Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, one of Russia's most capable nuclear weapons, has been approved for active duty, Yuri Borisov, the head of the Roscosmos Space Agency, has announced. The development was revealed during a Roscosmos event. The weapon is believed to be the longest-range and heaviest missile in the Russian nuclear arsenal. The liquid-fueled silo-based delivery vehicle, final stage testing of which was completed last year, is the intended replacement for the aging R-36M2 Voivoda missiles. Its range is estimated at at least 11,000 km, with a payload weighing around 10 tons. Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the Sarmat's range as offering new opportunities for defeating anti-ballistic missile systems. Shorter-range intercontinental ballistic missiles can, for example, only reach the U.S. from Russia by flying over the Arctic, and the U.S. has ground-based interceptors situated for such a flight path. Putin has repeatedly stressed that Russia was forced to develop the new weapon after the U.S. reneged on its commitment not to build anti-ballistic missile systems. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported last December that deployment of the Sarmat had begun and that the missile would be ready for service in 2023.